Hopscotch 2013 Night 1: The Kingsbury Manx, The Dreebs

Photos by Kevin Norris

After starting my 2013 Hopscotch Music Festival experience with a few songs from Nathan Bowles (check out photos with Justin's write-up HERE) I made my way next door to check out local favorites The Kingsbury Manx.

The band took the stage in the vast Memorial Auditorium to play songs from their latest album The Bronze Age. Their spacious pop rock sounds fit perfectly in the lofty space as some extra reverb to their already lush sound.  Check out photos below.

Schoolkids schedules tons of new in-store performances

A lot of local bands have new albums coming out soon and Schoolkids Records in Raleigh is hosting a bunch of them to play in-store performances over the next few months.

Chris Stamey is up first at the store on Saturday, February 2 at 3 p.m. to promote his new album Lovesick Blues, out on February 5 via Yep Roc Records.

The following day, Sunday, February 3, Gray young will stop by the store at 2 p.m. to promote their new album Bonfire. [UPDATE: Gray Young's in-store has been rescheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 9.]

Future Kings of Nowhere & Kingsbury Manx headlining Double Barrel Benefit 9

WKNC's annual Double Barrel Benefit concert is heading back to The Pour House this year after moving to Kings Barcade last year. This festivities will take place on February 3 and 4.

The Future Kings of Nowhere will headline on Friday, February 3 with Birds and Arrows, Organos and MAKE. The Kingsbury Manx will headline of Saturday, February 4 with Gross Ghost, Naked Gods and Heads on Sticks.

Two-night passes are currently on sale HERE for $15. Single day tickets will be $10 at the door.

Minus Sound Research hosting two-nights of music in Carrboro

The artist collective Minus Sound Research, started by local musicians Maria Albani and John Harrison, is celebrating their fifth anniversary this year and will be celebrating with a two-night concert in Carrboro.

The event will be held at the ArtsCenter. The line-up on Friday, Oct. 8 includes The Moaners, The Kingsbury Manx, Free Electric State and Birds & Arrows. The line-up on Saturday, Oct. 9 includes Americans in France, Shark Quest, North Elementary and Organos. Yes, you read correctly. The excellent Shark Quest will be making a rare live appearance.

Tickets for the event are available via etix. A two-night pass is just $13 or a single night ticket is $10.

Kingsbury Manx bring dreamy rock to Duke Gardens

Another humid summer Wednesday evening brought another band to the lovely Duke Gardens in Durham. The Kingsbury Manx took the stage to share their dreamy music with a warm and attentive crowd.

The quartet played a set comprised mostly of mellow, spacey tunes accompanied by a cellist and violinist for a few songs at the beginning and end of the set. Occasionally, the distortion pedal was activated, adding some fuzzed out rock to proceedings, but for the most part, things remained mellow.

Win tickets to The Kingsbury Manx at Duke Gardens

It's hard to believe the season is already winding to a close for Music in the Gardens, but there are still three great shows left. The Kingsbury Manx will hit the lawn next Wednesday, July 14.

To win a pair of tickets to the show, email us at trianglemusicblog at gmail dot com no later than noon on Monday, July 12, with "Kingsbury Manx tickets" in the subject line. We will notify a randomly-drawn winner that afternoon.

Tickets to the show are $10 or $5 for Duke students and employees and, as always, children 12 and under are free.

Win tickets to Annuals at Duke Gardens

It's nearly time again for Duke Performances' Music in the Gardens concert series and we're excited to offer one pair of tickets to a reader for most shows in the series.

To win a pair of tickets to the kickoff show with Annuals on Wednesday, May 26, email us at triangle_music [at] hotmail [dot] com by noon on Monday, May 24, with "Annuals tickets" in the subject line. We'll randomly select one reader to win. How could it be any easier than that?

Of course, if you don't want to leave it up to fate, tickets can be purchased to each other shows here. Click through for a complete list of Music in the Gardens shows and ticket prices.

Full details of Duke's Music in the Gardens series

With the winter we had this year, it's almost hard to believe that just six weeks from now we'll be spreading a blanket on the lawn at Duke Gardens to enjoy another summer full of great music. It should be no secret by now that the folks at Duke Performances excel at pulling together a fantastic roster of artists to fill the Gardens with their sounds, and this year is no different.

The series will kick off on Wednesday, May 26, with Raleigh-based Annuals and continue for 10 weeks including nights with Camera Obscura, Lonnie Walker, Kingsbury Manx, Max Indian and more.

First 2010 Summer in the Gardens shows announced

We're still well over two months away from the start of the always awesome Summer in the Gardens series put on by Duke Performances, but a trio of bands have already been announced. Local bands Annuals and The Kingsbury Manx will grace the gardens on May 26 and July 14 respectively. The third performer is Oklahoma songstress Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers on June 29, who is signed to Ramseur Records out of Concord, NC. The full Summer in the Gardens schedule will be released on April 15.

Check out mp3s from each of the three bands below, including a brand new track from Annuals upcoming EP Sweet Sister, due out on March 30. Keep an eye out for a review of the EP in a few weeks.

Check out our past coverage of the Summer in the Gardens series here.